CALM Peer to Peer Support Program
Faculty Physicians and Advance Practice Providers can find the calm after the storm through peer support.
Working in healthcare can have an emotional toll. Perhaps you are finding less joy in your job or have a sense of emotional fatigue. Maybe you were involved in an adverse patient event, a medical error, or stressful patient care experience. Through the Cultivating Active Listening in Medicine (CALM) Peer to Peer Support Program, UT Southwestern Faculty Wellness aims to better support faculty and advanced practice providers when work feels emotionally overwhelming.
I'm interested in receiving support
- What is a CALM peer supporter?
CALM peer supporters are colleagues who were nominated and selected for this role because they are trusted by others and good listeners. They are trained to understand the need to maintain appropriate boundaries while providing one-on-one emotional support as well as referrals to other support services within UT Southwestern or in the community.
Peer supporters are not medical or behavioral professionals, and do not diagnose mental health injuries or recommend specific treatments. They do not provide advice or feedback about the issue that caused distress, do not judge, or provide counseling.
- What should I expect from a CALM peer support session?
A member of the CALM peer support team or a trained CALM peer supporter will reach out to you to set up a time to meet.
Every effort will be made to deliver one-on-one peer support in a method most convenient for you (phone, in-person, virtual non-recorded meeting).
Peer support is completely voluntary, and you can decide if you want to participate. If there are concerns for your safety or the safety of others, or if you share information that requires reporting under university policy or existing law, this information will be reported as required by policy or applicable law.
Most people meet one time, although the option to meet again is up to you and your CALM peer supporter.
I want to support my peers
- How can I become a CALM peer supporter?
Peer supporters have good listening skills, resiliency and emotional intelligence, being able to maintain professional boundaries, and for being trustworthy. These are the people that naturally others go to when they need a sympathetic ear. Because these are skills recognized by others all CALM peer supporters must be nominated by a colleague.
- What are the expectations of a CALM Peer Supporter?
Selected nominated peer supporters will be contacted by the CALM team and invited to attend a three-hour training interactive workshop on active listening, second victim phenomenon, and emotional first aid.
After completing training, peer supporters will receive a badge buddy to identify them as a CALM peer supporter and will be part of the volunteer peer support network.
Trained peer supporters can expect to be matched with up to two colleagues in need per month. To continue grow your skills there will be monthly community of practice meetings which you are encouraged to attend.
- How do I nominate a peer to become a CALM peer supporter?
If you know a colleague (faculty or APP) who is a naturally good listener and respects others privacy, please fill out a CALM nomination form using the link below. We'd love to have them as part of our team! Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Other support resources
UT Southwestern Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic: 214-645-8500
Counseling & Support: Faculty Wellness
UT Southwestern Cares for You: The Interactive Screening Programming
988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Have questions or suggestions? We would love to hear from you!
Contact CALMPeerSupport CALMPeerSupport@UTsouthwestern.edu
